Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, (born
May 29,
1945,
Hackney,
London), is an
English singer,
songwriter,
pianist, and founder of the
classical rock band
Procol Harum. Brooker was awarded the Member of the
Order of the British Empire in the
Queen's Birthday Honours on
June 14,
2003 in recognition of his charitable services.
He grew up in the seaside resort of
Southend-on-Sea,
Essex,
England, as well as most of the other founding members of Procol Harum.
Gary Brooker founded The Paramounts in
1962 with his guitarist chum
Robin Trower. The band gained respect within the burgeoning
1960s British R 'n' B scene, which yielded
The Beatles,
The Animals, The
Spencer Davis Group, The
Rolling Stones, and many others. The Stones, in particular, were Paramounts fans, giving them guest billing on several memorable shows in the early 1960s.
In
1966, Brooker founded Procol Harum. "
A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is the #1 worldwide hit that Procol Harum is most known for, but Brooker's melancholy vocals and emotive, eclectic piano were a key part of Procol's musical mix for the entire course of the band's career. In the early years Brooker,
Hammond organist
Matthew Fisher, and Trower were the guiding musical forces behind the band, but after disparities in style became too much and Fisher and Trower left, Brooker was the clear leader until the band broke up in
1977. Brooker sang lead vocal on the
Alan Parsons song
Limelight on the 1985 album
Stereotomy.
A new incarnation of the band, led by Brooker and including Fisher for most of the tours from 1991 through 2003, has continued touring the world. Brooker also toured with
Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band in
1997 and
1999, and he was also a member of
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings for several years appearing on three of their albums and touring with the band. In November 2002 he was among musicians and singers participating in the
George Harrison tribute concert i,
Concert for George, at which he took vocals on their version of "Old Brown Shoe".
Solo Albums
*1979: No More Fear Of Flying
*1982: Lead Me To The Water
*1985: Echoes In The Night
*1998: Within Our House
Singles
*1979: Savannah
*1979: Say It Ain't So Joe
*1979: No More Fear of Flying
*1982: Cycle (Let It Flow)
*1982: Low Flying Birds
*1982: The Angler
*1984: The Long Goodbye
*1985: Two Fools In Love
*
ClassicBands.com - Procol Harum
*
ProcolHarum.com - Beyond the Pale
*
AirMail.net - 'Ringo Starr's All Starr Band 1997 Tour: Gary Brooker'
